Method of controlling a camera using a touch slider

ABSTRACT

A digital camera includes an optical assembly and image sensor for capturing still and/or video images and displaying the images on a screen. The camera includes a touch slider that is configured for sensing a relative movement of a finger, thumb or stylus or other tool of a user, or combinations thereof, and adjusting a value of an imaging parameter based on the relative movement.

PRIORITY AND RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 62/149,433, filed Apr. 17, 2015. This application is related toU.S. provisional patent applications Nos. 62/149,406, 62/149,452, and62/149,475. This application is one of a group of related,contemporaneously-filed patent applications, entitled A PASSIVE OPTICALELECTRONIC CAMERA VIEWFINDER APPARATUS, application Ser. No. 15/131,374,now U.S. Pat. No. 9,838,607; A METHOD OF CONTROLLING A CAMERA USING ATOUCH SLIDER, application Ser. No. 15/131,407; A DIGITAL CAMERAACCESSORY PROVIDING A SECONDARY IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE (“SICD”),application Ser. No. 15/131,434; A LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR A CAMERAINCLUDING MULTIPLE LEDS, application Ser. No. 15/131,529; and AN AUDIOSYSTEM FOR A DIGITAL CAMERA; application Ser. No. 15/131,547, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,800,975. Each of these priority and related applications isincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

All cameras these days have a screen on the back for framing and viewingphotos, but only some possess a viewfinder. Viewfinders allow you toshoot in bright sunlight—a potentially major factor depending on howmuch outdoor shooting you plan to do. They also use somewhat less powerthan LCD screens.

All SLRs possess a viewfinder, while only a minority of compact camerasand mirrorless cameras include this feature. There are two major typesof viewfinders: optical and electronic.

There are two types of viewfinders: optical (OVF) and electronic (EVF).Electronic viewfinders use a tiny electronic display much like thelarger LCD screen on the back of all cameras, whereas opticalviewfinders use mirrors and prisms to represent the view of a scene.

An advantage of electronic viewfinders is you get to see exactly whatthe camera's sensor sees and your view of a scene is never obstructedwhen taking a photo (your view is momentarily blocked when taking photoson DSLR cameras). Some cameras also augment the EVF display in variousways, such as by highlighting areas in focus (‘peaking’ autofocus),simulating the motion blur you'll see if you take a photo andautomatically boosting brightness when shooting very dark scenes.

Since the image in an optical viewfinder relies on the actual lightpassing through a camera rather than a digital representation, theyoffer a few unique benefits. Optical viewfinders provide much betterclarity, better dynamic range (roughly, ability to resolve scenes withextreme differences in brightness) and an instantanteous view of theaction lacking the delay found in some EVF systems. With someexceptions, typically optical viewfinders are found on SLRs, whileviewfinders on compact and mirrorless cameras are of the EVF variety.

Conventional camera viewfinders provide images directly to the eye of acamera user using a separate optical system disposed to the side orabove the optical path provided by the main camera lens and imagesensor. Modern mobile devices and DSLRs have electronic display screensinstead of viewfinders for previewing images. It is desired to have adigital camera that provides a camera user the option to preview imageson the display screen or through a viewfinder that neither compromisesdisplay nor device width and height. It is also desired to have aviewfinder that works in harmony with the display screen of the cameraand not against it.

A hot shoe on a camera body typically provides support and electricalcontact for an electronic flash attachment. In the past, an incandescentflash lamp or bulb coupled to a hot shoe provided a sole illuminationsource for capturing DSLR images with sufficient brightness to avoidlong exposures and/or wide apertures that often produce images that aremotion blurred or lack focal sharpness. It is desired to have a camerathat includes an illumination system with greater directional, temporaland/or spectral versatility than that provided by a single xenon orkrypton broadband flash source. It is further desired for a hot shoemechanism to have greater utility to a camera user than a single flashoption.

Adjusting precapture settings and postcapture editing on typical DSLRsand mobile camera-enabled devices involve the inconvenience of takingone hand off the camera to make touch screen or button actuatedadjustments to imaging parameters that tend to temporarily destabilizethe camera as an image capture device or as an viewer. It is desired tohave a camera that allows camera users to smoothly and convenientlyadjust precapture settings and perform postcapture editing.

Digital cameras are often equipped with video capture capability. Thesound capture with typical video imaging on mobile devices and DSLRs isusually poor, particularly when imaging videos in crowded, noisyenvironments. It is desired to have enhanced audio quality for videoscaptured with a handheld or otherwise mobile digital cameras.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates a front perspective view of a firstdigital camera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 1B schematically illustrates a back perspective view of the firstdigital camera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 1C schematically illustrates a top view of the first digital camerain accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 1D schematically illustrates a right side view of the first digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 1E schematically illustrates a front view of the first digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 1F schematically illustrates a left side view of the first digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 1G schematically illustrates a back view of the first digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 1H schematically illustrates a bottom view of the first digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a front perspective view of a seconddigital camera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 2B schematically illustrates a back perspective view of the seconddigital camera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 2C schematically illustrates a top view of the second digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 2D schematically illustrates a right side view of the seconddigital camera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 2E schematically illustrates a front view of the second digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 2F schematically illustrates a left side view of the second digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 2G schematically illustrates a back view of the second digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 2H schematically illustrates a bottom view of the second digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a back perspective view of a digitalcamera with a movable viewfinder in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 4A-4B schematically illustrate a passive optical electronic cameraviewfinder that is movable, respectively, between a first position atthe top of the camera when the viewfinder is not in use and a secondposition partially overlapping the camera display screen for viewing anobject through the viewfinder.

FIGS. 5A-5B schematically illustrate a passive optical electronic cameraviewfinder that is movable, respectively, between a first position atthe back of the camera to the side and out of the way of the cameradisplay screen when not in use and a second position partiallyoverlapping the camera display screen for viewing an object through theviewfinder.

FIGS. 6A-6B schematically illustrate a passive optical electronic cameraviewfinder that is movable, respectively, between a first position whereit forms a corner of the camera not including the camera display screenwhen not in use and a second position partially overlapping the cameradisplay screen for viewing an object through the viewfinder.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a top view of a digital camera thatincludes a view finder coupled with an optical loupe or viewfinder inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and a capacitive touch sensor zone or sliderfor scrolling in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a digital camerathat includes a grip portion with a built-in pop-up flash, capacitivetouch slider and shutter control button in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIGS. 10A-10D schematically illustrate a linear slider for adjusting oneor more image capture parameters and/or editing a captured image inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 11A-11C schematically illustrate front views of example digitalcameras that each include multiple LEDs for illuminating objects to beimaged in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 12A-12B schematically illustrate front and top views of a digitalcamera with a rotatable lens mounted flash in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 12C schematically illustrates another front view of the digitalcamera of FIGS. 15A-15B with the rotatable lens mounted flash rotated90° in either direction compared with the orientation of the rotatablelens mounted flash shown in FIG. 12A.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates a front view of a digital camera thatincludes a secondary image capture device coupled at a hot shoe locationfor thermal (IR), 3D or other alternative or secondary illuminationand/or imaging.

FIG. 14 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a secondary image capture device coupled at a hot shoe locationfor thermal (IR), 3D or other alternative or secondary illuminationand/or imaging.

FIG. 15A schematically illustrates a top view of a digital camera thatincludes multiple microphones for audio recording in accordance withcertain embodiments.

FIG. 15B schematically illustrates a cross sectional top view of acorner of a digital camera that includes a pair of microphones inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 15C schematically illustrates a front view of a digital camera thatincludes multiple microphones in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 15D schematically illustrates a perspective view of a digitalcamera that includes multiple microphones in accordance certainembodiments.

FIG. 16A schematically illustrates a top view of a digital camera with a90° rotatable tilt-out display screen in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 16B schematically illustrates a top view of a digital camera with a180° rotatable tilt-out display screen in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 16C schematically illustrates a top view of another digital camerawith a 180° rotatable tilt-out display screen including a biaxial hingecoupling in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 16D schematically illustrates a top view of another digital camerawith a 90° rotatable tilt-out display screen in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 16E schematically illustrates a top view of another digital camerawith a 180° rotatable tilt-out display screen in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 16F schematically illustrates another embodiment.

FIGS. 17A-17B schematically illustrate a back perspective view of adigital camera that includes a hot shoe interface for coupling asecondary image capture device, an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and/or anEVF flash accessory, a thermal illumination and/or IR imaging componentor an additional flash or other digital camera accessory, and a gripportion that includes a flash, a strap door and a transparent backsurface for horizontally extending the camera display screen to overlapthe grip portion, in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 18 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and various buttons for image capture and/orediting control, including buttons for capture type control (e.g.,video, time lapse, slow motion), secondary controls such as timer andflash, adjustment controls, global controls such as gallery, app storeand settings, and a thumbnail of a previous image capture in accordancewith certain embodiments.

FIG. 19 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and various buttons for image capture and/orediting control, including buttons for adjusting a time parameter and/orscrolling through a sequence of images, for selecting and editingvarious parameters using smart menus and a linear slider for adjusting,scrolling or showing a current time parameter disposed between a starttime and an end time for the sequence of images, in accordance withcertain embodiments.

FIG. 20 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and a smart reset button.

FIG. 21 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen such as a touch screen, a smart button, avalue indicator, smart correction and/or scrolling button, and a linearslider for adjusting parameters such as exposure, contrast, fill-flash,face priority and various other image capture and/or editing parameters,in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 22 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen showing a live image, a favorite selectbutton, a delete select button, a global control button, and advancededits and share buttons, in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 23 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen showing a feedback bubble that a user canaccept, reject or ignore in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 24 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and buttons for crop control and otheradjustment controls, and a button for confirming a crop or otheradjustment, and cancel and smart buttons, in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 25 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and a timeline with indicators of original andcurrent time values disposed between start and end times, and buttonsfor canceling to exit adjustment mode without saving and for confirmingto save changes, and a smart button, in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 26 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen showing a selected image for sharing, andbuttons for email, text, facebook, and networked second camera or otherdevice, in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 27A-27B schematically illustrate a back view of a digital camerathat includes a display screen that shows a level guide that autoappears when the camera is not leveled and disappears when the level isrestored in accordance with certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates a front perspective view of a firstdigital camera in accordance with certain embodiments. The digitalcamera shown in FIG. 1A includes a grip 2, a lens 4, a hot shoe 6 and aview finder 8. Although not shown in FIG. 1A, the camera may be equippedwith flash illumination, and several example embodiments of digitalcameras with flash are provided below (e.g., see FIG. 2E, FIGS. 11A-11Cand FIGS. 12A-12B).

The grip 2 includes a capacitive touch sensor 10 and battery compartment12. The capacitive touch sensor 10 may be used for scrolling through amenu of processing functions or for moving a cursor on a display screen(not shown, but see FIG. 1B) or for another function that is typicallyavailable to a user by way of a mouse or keypad of a computer or otherprocessor-based device. The capacitive touch sensor 10 may be used as animage capture button that may have both full press shutter trigger andhalf press settings adjustment functionality.

The lens 4 may be replaceable with one or more other lenses havingdifferent optical properties. The lens 4 may be movable relative to animage sensor of the digital camera. The lens 4 may be one of multiplelenses contained within a lens holder 14. The lens 4 may be movablerelative to one or more other lenses contained within the lens holder14, and multiple lenses may be movable together relative to the imagesensor.

The hot shoe 6 includes a mechanical and/or electrical couplinginterface for a peripheral such as a secondary flash or a secondaryimage capture device or SICD. The secondary flash or SICD may bedirectly coupled to the digital camera housing at the hot shoe interface6. A Bluetooth or other wireless coupling interface may be included atthe hot shoe 6 or otherwise within the digital camera for coupling thecamera to a secondary display, secondary or primary flash or SICD, orsecondary image processing or file sharing device.

The viewfinder 8 is shown in a stowed or inactive position. Theviewfinder 8 of FIG. 1A is configured to be moveable, e.g., rotatable,between active and inactive positions.

FIG. 1B schematically illustrates a back perspective view of the firstdigital camera of FIG. 1A in accordance with certain embodiments. Anexample of a display 16 is illustrated in FIG. 1B. The viewfinder 8 isshown in the inactive position such that no portion of the display 16 isoverlapped by the stowed viewfinder 8. FIG. 1B also shows a linearslider 17 that may be utilized for scrolling, adjusting pre-capturesettings or post-capture image attribute levels, or other image editing,storing or sharing, or cursor movements on display 16, or combinationsof these and other mouse or touchpad functions.

FIG. 1C schematically illustrates a top view of the first digital cameraof FIGS. 1A-1B in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 1C shows thegrip 2 with capacitive touch sensor 10, lens 4 and lens holder 14coupled to the digital camera body, the hot shoe 6 and stowed viewfinder8, each as previously introduced in FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 1D schematically illustrates a right side view of the first digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 1D shows the grip 2with battery compartment 12, and the lens 4 and lens holder 14 coupledto the digital camera body, each as previously introduced in FIGS.1A-1B.

FIG. 1E schematically illustrates a front view of the first digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 1E shows the grip 2with capacitive touch sensor 10, lens 4 and lens holder 14 coupled tothe digital camera body, and stowed viewfinder 8, each as previouslyintroduced in FIGS. 1A-1B. A flash light source 41A is schematicallyillustrated as being disposed on the front surface of the grip 2. Amicrophone 41B is schematically illustrated in the front view of FIG. 1Ejust on the right side of the lens holder. There may be one or two ormore additional light sources and/or one or two or more additionalmicrophones in certain embodiments, respectively, to provide enhancedspectral, temporal, spatial and/or directional lighting versatilityand/or to provide stereo audio in portrait and/or landscape and/or oneor more other camera orientations.

FIG. 1F schematically illustrates a left side view of the first digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 1F shows the lens 4and lens holder 14 coupled to the digital camera body, the stowedviewfinder 8 and an access door 18 to a compartment for, e.g., a neckstrap and/or electronic components of the digital camera.

FIG. 1G schematically illustrates a back view of the first digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 1G shows the grip 2,the hot shoe 6, the stowed viewfinder 8, the display 16 and the linearslider 17, each as previously introduced in FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 1H schematically illustrates a bottom view of the first digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 1H shows the grip 2with battery compartment 12, and the lens 4 and lens holder 14 coupledto the digital camera body, each as previously introduced in FIGS.1A-1B.

FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a front perspective view of a seconddigital camera in accordance with certain embodiments. The digitalcamera shown in FIG. 2A includes a grip 22, a lens assembly 24 includingone or more lenses contained within a lens holder 34, a hot shoe 26 forcoupling a primary or secondary flash or for mechanical, electricaland/or signal coupling a secondary image capture device to the digitalcamera for providing spectral, temporal, spatial and/or directionalimage capture versatility, and a view finder 28 in stowed position thatis rotatable for viewing a subset of rear display screen pixels withmagnification provided by a viewfinder lens assembly including one ormore magnifying lenses that may provide proportional or anamorphicmagnification.

The grip 22 includes a capacitive touch sensor 30 or image capturebutton 30, and a battery compartment 32. The capacitive touch sensor 30may be used for scrolling through a menu of processing functions or formoving a cursor on a display screen (not shown, but see FIG. 2B) or foranother function that is typically available to a user by way of a mouseor keypad of a computer or other processor-based device. The capacitivetouch sensor 30 may be used as an image capture button that may haveboth full press shutter trigger and half press settings adjustmentfunctionality. The button 30 may function solely as a half-press andfull-press image capture button, while a capacitive touch sensor ortouchscreen rear display may be configured to handled mouse-like userinputs.

The lens 24 may be replaceable with one or more other lenses havingdifferent optical properties. The lens 24 may be movable relative to animage sensor of the digital camera. The lens 24 may be one of multiplelenses contained within a lens holder 34. The lens 24 may be movablerelative to one or more other lenses contained within the lens holder34, and multiple lenses may be movable together relative to the imagesensor.

The hot shoe 26 includes a mechanical and/or electrical couplinginterface for a peripheral such as a secondary flash or a secondaryimage capture device or SICD. The secondary flash or SICD may bedirectly coupled to the digital camera housing at the hot shoe interface26. A Bluetooth or other wireless coupling interface may be included atthe hot shoe 26 or otherwise within the digital camera for coupling thecamera to a secondary display, secondary or primary flash or SICD, orsecondary image processing or file sharing device.

The viewfinder 28 is shown in a stowed or inactive position. Theviewfinder 28 of FIG. 2A is configured to be moveable, e.g., rotatable,between active and inactive positions. FIG. 2A also shows an access door38 to a compartment for, e.g., a neck strap and/or electronic componentsof the digital camera.

A Fresnel lens 40 is also shown in FIG. 2A. Although not shown, one ormore flash illumination sources are provided behind the Fresnel lens 40.A pair of LED flash illumination sources may be disposed behind theFresnel lens 40 on the far left and far right sides of the front surfaceof the camera housing. Three, four, or five or more LEDs may be disposedbehind the Fresnel lens 40. There may be a LED disposed behind a Fresnellens portion that is shown at the front of the viewfinder 28 in thestowed position, which can be used for illumination when the viewfinder28 is disposed in the stowed position during image capture. The one ormore flash illumination sources may include one or more LEDs asdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 11A-11C, and/or xenon, kryptonor other incandescent bulbs or lamps, and/or other broadband and/ornarrowband visible and/or infrared light sources. The Fresnel lens 40may be continuous, as shown in the example of FIG. 2A, or each LED maybe disposed behind a proportionately-sized Fresnel lenslet. One or moremicrophones may be disposed between the LEDs behind audio grill portionsdisposed between the Fresnel lenslets.

A pop-up flash 129 is also illustrated in FIG. 2A as being in itsrecessed position within a cavity define in the top of the grip 22. Oneor more flash illumination sources may be disposed on the lens holder 34or on a lens holder attachment that may be rotatable.

FIG. 2B schematically illustrates a back perspective view of the seconddigital camera of FIG. 2A in accordance with certain embodiments. Anexample of a display 36 is illustrated in FIG. 2B. The viewfinder 28 isshown in the inactive position such that no portion of the display 36 isoverlapped by the stowed viewfinder 28. Although not shown in FIG. 2A orFIG. 2B, a linear slider may be provided for scrolling, adjustingpre-capture settings or post-capture image attribute levels, or otherimage editing, storing or sharing, or cursor movements on display 36, orcombinations of these and other mouse or touchpad functions.

FIG. 2C schematically illustrates a top view of the second digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 2C shows the grip 22with capacitive touch sensor 30 and/or image capture button 30, lens 24and lens holder 34 coupled to the digital camera body, the hot shoe 26and stowed viewfinder 28, each as previously introduced in FIGS. 2A-2B.

FIG. 2D schematically illustrates a right side view of the seconddigital camera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 2D shows thegrip 22 and battery compartment 32, and the lens 24 and lens holder 34coupled to the digital camera body, each as previously introduced inFIGS. 2A-2B.

FIG. 2E schematically illustrates a front view of the second digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 2E shows the grip 22with capacitive touch sensor 30 and/or image capture button 30 andbattery compartment 32, lens 24 and lens holder 34 coupled to thedigital camera body, the Fresnel lens 40 and stowed viewfinder 28, oneor more LED light sources 41A disposed behind Fresnel lens 40, one ormore microphones 41B that may form a triangle in the plane of the frontsurface of the camera, each as previously introduced in FIGS. 2A-2B, andas described in further examples herein.

FIG. 2F schematically illustrates a left side view of the second digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 2F shows a back partof the grip 22, lens 24 and lens holder 34 coupled to the digital camerabody, the stowed viewfinder 28 and compartment access door 38, each aspreviously introduced in FIGS. 2A-2B.

FIG. 2G schematically illustrates a back view of the second digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 2G shows the grip22, the hot shoe 26, the stowed viewfinder 28, and the digital cameradisplay 36, each as previously introduced in FIGS. 2A-2B.

FIG. 2H schematically illustrates a bottom view of the second digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 2H shows the grip22, and the lens 24 and lens holder 34 coupled to the digital camerabody, each as previously introduced in FIGS. 2A-2B.

Viewfinder

A digital camera is provided that includes an image sensor within acamera housing, an optical assembly including one or more lenses forforming images on the image sensor, a rear display screen for viewingthe images and a viewfinder including a magnifying lens that is movablebetween a stowed position and an active position for viewing a subset ofdisplay screen pixels with magnification.

In certain embodiments, the camera housing defines a cutout forreceiving the viewfinder in the stowed position. The viewfinder may berotatable between the stowed and active positions. The rotation axis ofthe viewfinder may be approximately normal to an optical axis of theoptical assembly of the digital camera. The stowed position may be atthe top, side or bottom of the housing non-overlapping the displayscreen, while the active position of the viewfinder may be at the rearof the housing overlapping a subset of display screen pixels thatcontain an image. The rotation axis may in certain embodiments beapproximately parallel to an optical axis of the optical assembly of thedigital camera, such that the viewfinder is non-overlapping the displayscreen in the stowed position and is rotatable to overlap a subset ofdisplay screen pixels in the active position.

The viewfinder may be translatable between the stowed and activepositions in certain embodiments. The viewfinder may in one exampleinclude one or more coupling protrusions that fit into one or morerespective grooves defined the housing, such that the couplingprotrusions can move along the grooves to facilitate the translation ofthe viewfinder over the display screen for use and back to the side ofthe display screen when stowed.

The viewfinder may include an eyebrow rest. The viewfinder may include acup-shaped and/or flexible eye socket interface alternative to or inaddition to the eyebrow rest.

A proximity sensor may be disposed near the viewfinder window fortriggering one or more camera functions based on proximity of the camerauser to the viewfinder. For example, the camera may be programmed todisplay images on a larger portion of the display screen when the camerauser is not proximate to the viewfinder in the active position than whenthe camera user is proximate to the viewfinder in the active position.The camera may be programmed to display images on a subset of displayscreen pixels overlapped by the viewfinder when the user is proximate tothe viewfinder and to display different images or UI objects on adifferent subset of the display screen that is not overlapped by theviewfinder when the viewfinder is in the active position and the user isnot proximate to the viewfinder. When the user is detected to beproximate to the viewfinder, the non-overlapped pixels may be darkenedelectronically and/or mechanically.

The camera may include one or more proximity sensors near the viewfinderor on the grip or otherwise disposed to sense proximity of the user tothe camera. The camera is programmed in certain embodiments to begin astart-up process when the camera user becomes proximate to the camera ora certain portion of the camera.

The camera may be programmed to display images on a larger portion ofthe display screen when the viewfinder is in the stowed position thanwhen the viewfinder is in the active position. Advantageously, a subsetof display screen pixels that are overlapped by the viewfinder in theactive position are not overlapped by the viewfinder in the stowedposition. The viewfinder and display screen of a digital camera inaccordance with certain embodiments are advantageously utilized togetherto provide an optimal camera experience for a user.

A blinder may open out of the viewfinder or camera housing in certainembodiments to block light from an adjacent portion of the displayscreen from interfering with the viewing of images through theviewfinder. The viewfinder may have a fixed wall that forms an acuteangle with a plane of a rear display screen as in the example of FIGS.4A-4B to black the adjacent display screen pixels when the viewfinder isin active position. The adjacent screen portion may in certainembodiments be electronically darkened.

In certain embodiments, the lens assembly 24 contained within the lensholder 34 images a scene on an image sensor (not shown) which may bedisplayed on the full rear display screen or substantially entire reardisplay screen when the viewfinder is stowed and which may be presentedon a subset of display screen pixels when overlapped by the viewfinderin active mode. The camera may be alternatively configured to captureimages at a portion of the display screen. The focal plane of the cameramay be moved between the image sensor plane and the plane of the displayscreen by adjusting a lens position and/or an image sensor positionand/or by adjusting a mirror position or half-mirrored optical splitter.In these embodiments, the viewfinder is configured with a magnifyingglass as a loupe for viewing images captured at the image sensor andpresented on the subset of display screen pixels or captured directly onthe subset of display screen pixels.

The viewfinder may include one or more movable optics for adjusting toan eyesight characteristic of a user. A geometric area or shape of thesubset of display screen pixels utilized in active viewfinder mode maybe adjustable in certain embodiments. The viewfinder may include one ormore movable optics for adjusting magnification in accordance with imagesize or resolution or to view objects or other subsets of pixels withinan image. Alternatively, a magnification of the viewfinder may beadjustable by selecting among multiple available lenses having differentmagnifications.

A resolution of an image provided at a subset of display screen pixelsfor viewing through the viewfinder is adjustable in certain embodiments.

The camera may be configured to automatically provide a viewfinder imageat an overlapping subset of display screen pixels when the viewfinder isplaced in the active position and to automatically provide a full screenimage when the viewfinder is stowed.

The viewfinder may include a hinge coupling for rotating the viewfinderbetween the active and stowed positions.

The viewfinder may include an attachment coupling for attaching to thecamera housing for use in the active position and for detaching from thecamera housing to use the full display screen when the viewfinder is notin use. In this embodiment, the viewfinder may be stowed in acompartment defined in the grip or away from the camera. A hot shoebracket may be utilized for attaching the viewfinder to the camerahousing in certain embodiments.

The viewfinder may include a single lens or multiple lenses. In certainembodiments, the viewfinder includes two or more lenses that areconfigured to permit the user to view images presented at the subset ofdisplay screen pixels with anamorphic optical power.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a back perspective view of a digitalcamera with a movable viewfinder in accordance with certain embodiments.FIG. 3 shows a back perspective view of a digital camera that includes agrip 42, hot shoe 46, viewfinder 48, lens holder 54, display 56 andcompartment access door 58. The viewfinder 48 is shown in two positionsin FIG. 3. In a first stowed or inactive position A, the viewfinder 48is out of the way of the display 56 and stowed similar to the viewfinder8 illustrated schematically in FIG. 1A. In a second active position B,the viewfinder 48 is overlapping a portion of the display 56. In theexample of FIG. 3, an upper left corner section of the display 56 isoverlapped by the viewfinder 48 when in the active position B.

The viewfinder 48 may be moved between positions A and B by rotationabout an axis that is approximately normal to the optical axis of thedigital camera. The movement of the viewfinder 48 from the stowedposition A to the active position B may in certain embodiments trigger athumbnail to appear on the overlapped portion of the display for viewingthrough a viewfinder window 60 an approximately same or similar image asmay be viewed on the display 56 when the viewfinder 48 is stowed, and asmay be captured by full-pressing the image capture button (not shown inFIG. 3, but see element 10 of FIG. 1A and element 30 of FIG. 2A). FIG. 3also shows an eyebrow rest 62 to assist the user to position andstabilize his or her eye when using the viewfinder 48.

Among the advantages of a digital camera with a viewfinder in accordancewith embodiments illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 1A-6B and otherfigures described herein below, a rear screen 56 of a the digitalcamera, or a small portion of the screen 56 as illustrated in theexample of FIG. 3, may be disposed at an image plane, while theviewfinder 48 may be configured such that the window 60 or a lens insidethe window 60 has a significant magnification like a magnifying glass toserve as a loupe for viewing the image on the display 56. The imageplane may also be a separate CCD, CMOS or other image detector, suchthat the image data may be processed through a ISP or other processorand provided as a thumbnail or small image on the screen 56 or portionthereof which is viewable through the viewfinder 48.

The viewfinder 48 can be retracted when the photographer wants to usethe viewfinder 48 and moved aside when the user would like a full viewof the screen 56. The viewfinder 48 may be adjustable to suit thedistinct eyesight of one or more individual viewers.

The viewfinder 48 can use various areas of the screen depending on theresolution that is selected automatically by the camera or manually by auser. The screen 56 can automatically adjust based on detection of whenthe viewfinder 48 is placed in position to provide the viewfinder imageand when the viewfinder is stowed to the side of the screen 56.

The viewfinder 48 may be assembled as part of a digital camera, as shownin FIG. 3, or may be selectably attached and removed as a peripheraldevice. The attachment of the viewfinder can be performed in certainembodiments by sliding the viewfinder into the hot shoe 46. In the caseof attachment of the viewfinder 48 to the hot shoe 46, an image may beprovided at the center-top of the screen 56 beneath the hot shoe 46 inthe example of FIG. 3 for viewing through viewfinder 48. The position ofthe hot shoe 46 may be anywhere around the camera periphery and theimage may be provided at a screen location proximate or adjacent orconvenient to the location of the hot shoe 46. The viewfinder may beconfigured to be adjustable such that different screen locations may beviewed through it. In one embodiment, the viewfinder includes a hingedextension arm that folds out and may be rotated using a ball bearingcoupling to view any or most any or a substantial or significant amountof selected screen portions.

The viewfinder 48 may be selectably stowed at position A or put intoposition B for use by a hinge mechanism with locking recesses atpositions A and B.

The viewfinder 48 and grip 42 may be interchangeable either left andright or right and left to accommodate different dominant eyes of users.The viewfinder 48 in certain embodiments is designed with blinders orpolarization filters or baffling or reflectors on the sides so thatstray light is prevented from penetrating from the sides toadvantageously provide a better contrast ratio.

The viewfinder 48 may have a rubber cup eye socket interface (not shown)to stabilize the user at the viewfinder and reduce stray light. Theviewfinder 48 can be adjusted in certain embodiments to multipledifferent magnifications in certain embodiments, and in embodimentshaving less versatility in the selection of magnification, one or moreimage parameters may alternatively be adjustable.

FIG. 4A-4B schematically illustrate a passive optical electronic cameraviewfinder 68 coupled to a digital camera that is movable, respectively,between a first position A′ at the top of the camera when the viewfinderis not in use and a second position B′ partially overlapping the cameradisplay screen 76 for viewing an object through an magnifying optic 80of the viewfinder 68. For perspective, the lens holder 74 of the digitalcamera is shown in FIGS. 4A-4B at the front of the camera.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate rotation of a viewfinder 68 in accordance with asecond example of rotation axis that is normal to the optical axis. Therotation axis for the viewfinder 68 is normal to the rotation axis forthe viewfinder 48 of FIG. 3, and both of these rotations axes is normalto the optical axis of the camera. In certain embodiments, theviewfinder 68 may be slidable along the length of the camera side to aselected location. The viewfinder may be slidable along the entireperiphery of the camera. The viewfinder may be coupled mechanicallyand/or magnetically to the camera. The viewfinder may be mechanicallycoupled to the user and may communicate with the camera by Bluetooth orin another wireless RF or optical manner to synchronize the location ofthe screen image thumbnail with the location of the loupe.

The viewfinder 68 is enclosed in a housing that includes an opticalsection and left and right side walls 69 that each form an acute anglewith the display screen, i.e., less than 90°, such that the side walls69 slope gradually away from the optical section blocking respectiveadjacent display screen areas. In the example of FIGS. 4A-4B, the acuteangle may be 60° or 45° or 30° or less. The slope of the left and rightside walls 69 of the viewfinder 68 advantageously blocks light from thedisplay screen 76 just to the left and right, respectively, of the eyeof a user of the viewfinder. In certain embodiments wherein a left-mostedge of the display screen 76 is used in viewfinder mode, the right sidewall is sloped and the left side wall is not. Similarly when aright-most display screen subarea is used, the left side wall is slopedwhile the right side wall is not in certain embodiments. In otherembodiments, the bottom and/or top side walls may be sloped, and theside walls may slope away in every direction, and the side walls may berotatable relative to the optical section of the viewfinder 68 to blocka selected portion of the display screen depending on whether theviewfinder 68 is imaging a subset of the display screen at the rightside, left side, top, bottom or middle. In certain embodiments, theangle that one or more side walls makes with the display screen may beadjustable, e.g., from 90° to 60° to 30° using a hinge coupling withthree locking positions, or using a roll-up blind configuration that maybe adjusted to cover a variable portion of the display screen.

FIGS. 5A-5B schematically illustrate a passive optical electronic cameraviewfinder 88 that is movable, respectively, between a first position A′at the back of the camera to the side and out of the way of the cameradisplay screen 96 when not in use and a second position B′ partiallyoverlapping the camera display screen 96 for viewing an object throughthe magnification optic 90 of the viewfinder 88. In the example of FIGS.5A-5B, the viewfinder 88 is rotatable in accordance with a third examplerotation axis that is parallel to the optical axis of the digital cameraand perpendicular to the rotation axes provided in the first and secondexamples of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A-4B, respectively.

FIGS. 6A-6B schematically illustrate a passive optical electronic cameraviewfinder 98 with magnification loupe 100 that is movable,respectively, between a first position A′″ where it forms a corner ofthe camera not including the camera display screen 106 when not in useand a second position B′″ partially overlapping the camera displayscreen 106 for viewing an object through the viewfinder 100. In theexample of FIGS. 6A-6B, the viewfinder 98 is rotatable in accordancewith the first example rotation axis that is normal to the optical axisof the digital camera and illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a top view of a digital camera inaccordance with certain embodiments. In FIG. 7, the viewfinder 108 isshown in the stowed position A^(iv) and also in the active positionB^(iv) and an arrow is shown to indicate that the viewfinder 108 rotatescounter-clockwise in the top view of FIG. 7 between the stowed andactive positions. The viewfinder 108 may include a magnifying opticalassembly such as a magnifying lens or an optical loupe in certainembodiments. The viewfinder 108 of FIG. 7 includes a blinder 109 thatreduces light from the display screen 126 near the viewfinder 108 frombothering the camera user who is trying to use the viewfinder 108 toview, edit, capture or share or otherwise work with images or othercomputational functions involving viewing objects a display.

The viewfinder 108 includes an optical section 123 and a rotationcoupling section 125. The optical section 123 uses a top-left corner ofthe display screen 126 as an object and an eye of a camera user to viewa magnified image displayed within the top-left corner portion of thedisplay screen when the viewfinder 108 is in active position B^(iv). Amagnifying lens or lenses are disposed between display screen 126 andthe eye of the user in the optical section of the viewfinder 108,although not shown in FIG. 7. A window 121 encloses the viewfinder. Incertain embodiments, the window is configured to magnify images to bereceived at the eye of the user. The rotation coupling bracket section125 includes a thin protrusion that extends from the top of theviewfinder housing at the optical section 123 at least through arotation coupling 127 that is disposed in the example of FIG. 7 at therotation axis 127 of the viewfinder 108.

FIG. 7 also schematically illustrates a grip 2 that includes a pop-upflash 129 that may recess into the grip 2 when not in use and translateout of the top of the grip 2 for use. The top portion of the grip 2 inFIG. 7 also includes a touch slider 118 and image capture button 110.The touch slider 118 may be disposed at any area of the top of the gripin front of the main camera housing. The touch slider 117 may be anincluded additional area of the same slider 118 or the slider 117 may beseparate from or alternative to the slider 118 such as to provide theuser with an option or for contemporaneous functionality, e.g.,adjusting two image parameters at once each using a different slider.

A second slider 117 may be disposed at a rear area of the top of thegrip 2, e.g., to the rear of the main housing. The slider 117 isdisposed for finger or thumb actuation, just as the slider 17 of FIGS.1B and 2B is disposed for thumb actuation at a back surface of the grip2 and the slider 118 is disposed for finger actuation nearer a frontsurface of the grip or alternatively on the front surface of the grip. Acamera with touch slider may be provided in accordance with variousembodiments including a camera with only one slider 17, 117 or 118 orjust having use of a slider object on the touch display screen 126 orhaving a slider on the other side of the camera, or with two sliders 17and 118, 17 and 117, or 117 and 118, or one of the sliders 118, 17, or117 and a slider object on a touchscreen display 126, or three of moresliders, and the display screen may have touchscreen capability suchthat another slider option may be provided anywhere on the displayscreen.

A camera may include one or more touch sliders 17, 117, 118 and/or atouch screen display object. A touch slider 17, 117, 118 and/or a touchscreen display object may be a linear slider when it is sensitive torelative movement along a single directional axis and/or whenadjustments to values of parameters are made in proportion to a slidingmovement along the single directional axis. A touch slider 17, 117, 118and/or a touch screen display object may be two dimensional such thatmultiple linear sliders may be defined each along a differentdirectional axis within the contour of the touch slider 17, 117, 118, ordisplay object.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a back view of the digital camera ofFIG. 7 including a viewfinder 108 in the active position B^(iv)including a blinder 109 for blocking light emanating from an overlappedportion of the screen 126 when the viewfinder 108 is in the activeposition B^(iv) and retracting when the viewfinder 108 is in the stowedposition A^(iv). The viewfinder 108 of FIG. 8 also includes an opticalwindow 121 and eyebrow rest 122. FIG. 8 also schematically illustratesthe display screen 126 and a capacitive touch sensor zone 17 or slider17 on the back of the grip for scrolling and/or adjusting imageparameters displayed on the display screen 126 and/or in the viewfinder108 in accordance with certain embodiments.

The camera of FIG. 8 includes a hot shoe bracket interface 116 which mayinclude a mechanical, electrical and bi-directional communicationsinterface with a secondary image capture device (SICD) which isdescribed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 13-14. The cameraof FIG. 8 also includes a pop-up flash 129 which is configured to recessinto the grip 2 when not in use.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a side view of the digital camera ofFIGS. 7-8 including a viewfinder 108 in the active position B^(iv)having an optical window 121 and an eyebrow rest 122. The viewfinder 108includes an optical section 123 for magnifying the top-left portion ofthe display screen 126 and a rotation coupling section 125 that definesa rotation axis for the viewfinder 108. FIG. 9 also schematically showsa lens 114 and lens holder 124 and battery access 58 for a digitalcamera in accordance with certain embodiments.

In another embodiment, a digital camera may include a pair ofviewfinders, wherein each may be configured in accordance withembodiments described herein. The pair of viewfinders may be spacedapart to overlap different display areas for viewing two differentimages by the left and right eyes of the user. One or both of the pairof viewfinders may have an adjustable magnification or focus position.Both images may be the same, or the two images may differ slightly inangle to provide a 3D effect. One image may be visible while the othermay include infrared light. One image may be captured by the main cameraand the other by a secondary image capture device (SICD) coupled to ahot shoe interface 116. The two images may be downloaded or streamedsuch as may be provided as a video game or virtual simulation.

Linear Slider/Touch Slider

A digital camera is provided that includes an image sensor within acamera housing, an optical assembly including one or more lenses forforming images on the image sensor, a display screen for viewing theimages, and a touch slider configured for sensing a relative movement ofa finger, thumb or stylus or other tool of a user, or combinationsthereof, and adjusting a value of an imaging parameter based on therelative movement.

The touch slider may include or define a linear slider in certainembodiment, such as to adjust a value of an precapture or postcaptureimage parameter or camera setting. The linear slider may be configuredfor adjusting a value of an image parameter proportional to the relativemovement that it senses along a single defined axis.

A touch slider in accordance with certain embodiments may be sensitiveto sliding or other relative movements along one or two directional axesalong the surface of the touch slider, which may be planar or curved ora combination thereof. The touch slider may also be sensitive toproximity, taps, changes in pressure and/or other relative movementsalong a third axis normal to the touch sensor surface.

In certain embodiments, the touch slider is sensitive to slidingmovements along one or two directional axes and to taps along a thirdaxis normal to the touch sensor surface. The touch sensor may include alinear slider or may be configured with a linear property. The linearslider may be responsive to motion along a single directional axis, orthe linear slider may be used to adjust a parameter in linear proportionto a detected sliding movement, or the linear slider may begeometrically linear, e.g., having a single pixel width, or the linearslider may be configured as a combination of two of these three featuresor of all three of these features.

In certain embodiments, a top surface of the grip may be pixelated as atouch sensor, and/or a side, back and/or front surface of the grip mayinclude a touch sensor. In certain embodiments, a touch sensor may beincluded on a lens housing or above or below or to the side of a lenshousing at the front of the camera or at the top or side of the camera,or combinations of these.

A touch sensor in accordance with certain embodiments may be one, two orthree dimensional in its capacity to sense relative movements and/orproximities which may be communicated to a camera processor asprecapture settings or processing commands, or selections of imagingparameters or quantities thereof, or data or other digital inputs.

The touch sensor may serve as a shutter trigger or image capture buttonwhen the camera is programmed to interpret a tap, proximity or pressurechange at a touch slider as a command to capture an image.

The touch sensor may also be used to adjust a position of focus within ascene to be captured. In certain embodiments, the camera may beprogrammed to interpret relative movement along a touch sensor ascommands to move a focus position within the scene. A relative movementin the plane or normal to the plane of the touch sensor may be viewableon the display as movement of a cursor within the scene or as selectionof a autofocus position, respectively, or combinations thereof.

The touch slider may be configured for haptic sensing of relativemovement by the camera or by the user, or both.

The touch slider may be configured to sense proximity for selecting amenu item or otherwise executing an object script appearing on thedisplay screen. The touch slider may be configured for scrolling andmoving a cursor or other object on the display screen.

A value of an imaging parameter may be adjustable based on a length,speed, shape, and/or distance or other amount discernible from therelative movement sensed by the touch slide. The value may be adjustablein proportion to the length, speed, shape, and/or distance or otheramount.

Different parameters may be selectable for adjusting based on adirection of relative movement sensed by the touch sensor. Multipleparameters may be adjustable with a single relative movement sensed bythe touch sensor, e.g., when in certain embodiments the camera isprogrammed to extract non-zero projections of the single relativemovement onto each of multiple directional axes. The multipledirectional axes may include two perpendicular axes that define a touchslider plane. The touch slider plane may be disposed parallel to aportion of the housing. The multiple directional axes may include athird axis normal to the touch slider plane.

The touch slider may include multiple posts that are independentlymovable in one or more directions out of the touch slider plane. Themultiple posts may be movable relative to the digital camera housingfrom recessed or otherwise stowed positions to one or more protrudedpositions when in use. The digital camera may be programmed to trackmovements of the multiple posts in one or more directions to determine arelative movement of a finger, thumb or stylus and/or other tool of auser.

The touch slider may include a capacitive touch sensor. The touch slidermay be configured for haptic activation. The touch slider may beconfigured for touch screen activation. The touch slider may be spacedfrom the display screen. The display screen may be disposed at a rearsurface of the housing and the touch slider may be disposed at a top,bottom, side or front surface of the housing or on the grip.

Imaging parameters that may be conveniently and smoothly adjusted usingthe touch slider may include exposure, brightness, contrast, focusdistance, depth of field, white balance, digital fill flash and/or focalpoint.

The camera may be programmed to suggest to a camera user to adjust orcheck a level of one or more of imaging parameters. These suggestionsmay be determined based on image analysis or user preferences, or both.

The touch slider may be configured for selecting different imagingparameters by respectively tapping or otherwise touching differentregions of the touch slider.

The camera may be configured to provide on the display screen visualinformation to the user about the relative movement sensed by the touchslider and/or about the adjustment of imaging parameter values using thetouch slider. The information may include identification of a specificimaging parameter and a value of the identified parameter. Theinformation may include a suggested direction of change of the value ofa parameter and/or a suggested value to adjust to.

The camera may include an ergonomic camera grip at one end of the camerahousing. The ergonomic camera grip may be detachably coupled to thecamera housing at one end, or formed together with the rest of thecamera housing. A chamfered shutter button may be disposed on the gripor exposed through a cavity or recess defined into the grip. The touchslider may be disposed on the grip or exposed through a cavity or recessdefined in the grip. Multiple touch sliders may be provided, e.g., attop and rear locations on the grip that are respectively convenientlyaccessible by an index finger and thumb of a camera user. A touch slidermay be located on either side of the camera.

The grip may include a transparent rear window and/or side wall materialfor viewing a portion of the display screen that the grip overlaps. Incertain embodiments, the display screen extends into the grip and isviewable through the transparent material forming the rear window and orside wall of the grip.

FIGS. 10A-10C schematically illustrate examples of touch slider displayobjects that, in a first example, a user may view on the display screen16 while thumb actuating the touch slider 17 of a camera configured inaccordance with FIG. 1B or finger actuate a touch slider 118 or 117 asin the example of FIG. 1C, or that, in a second example, a user may bothview and touch screen actuate a displayed touch slider object, forselecting and adjusting an imaging parameter in accordance with certainembodiments. Any touch slider 17, 117 and/or 118 other than a touchscreen display object slider may include multiple posts or pegs formedtogether in an array of pixels that may be disposed in an overall touchslider recess or in two or more touch slider region recesses or eachpost or peg may recess into its own individual post or peg recess whennot in use, and then protrude out of the housing when a user decides touse the touch slider 17, 117, and/or 118. In other embodiments, a slider17, 117, 118 may include a fixed touchpad surface.

The touch slider 120 illustrated schematically in FIG. 10A is dividedinto four regions: flash 122, exposure 124, focus 126 and auto/smart128. The number of touch slider regions may be more or less than fourand the regions 122, 124, 126, 128 may be disposed in a circular shapeor in another curved shape or in a linear or rectangular shaped region,and the sub-regions may be polygonal or curved in shape while theoverall touch sensor region may be shaped differently. The touch slider120 may overlap a preview of an image on the display screen or may bedisposed to the side or above or below a preview image on the displayscreen or there may be separate display screens for the user interfaceand preview or postcapture images. There may be another region thatwould forward to a next set of parameters that may be selected toadjust, and there may be as many sliders generated in this manner asthere are sets of parameters that may be adjusted. In certainembodiments, a user may initiate an adjustment of flash, exposure orfocus or another parameter by tapping the touch slider region designatedfor the parameter that is to be adjusted. When any of the regionsdesignated flash, exposure or focus is selected by the user by tappingregion 122, 124 or 126, respectively, then the touch slider changes to adifferent touch slider 130 such as that shown in FIG. 10B for adjustinga value of the selected parameter. Tapping the auto/smart region 128 ofthe touch slider 120 would leave it to the default settings or aprogrammed process for setting imaging parameters that have not beenspecifically set by the user.

In certain embodiments, the user can tap one of the numbers shown in theexample slider 130 of FIG. 10B to adjust the value of the selectedparameter by the indicated amount, e.g., +2 or −1. The user may incertain embodiments use the slider 17 of FIG. 1B or slider 117 or 118 ofFIG. 1C or a touch screen display slider object by sliding a finger orthumb in one direction to increase the value of the parameter or in theopposite direction to reduce the value of the parameter. The touchslider display object 130 may alternatively show actual values of theparameter that may be selected directly by tapping the slider or byfinger thumb sliding left or right to respectively decrease or increasethe value of the parameter by an amount proportional to the slidingdistance or other quantity that may be detected or computed for thefinger or thumb movement such as slide speed or downward pressure.

FIG. 10C illustrates a view through a viewfinder, e.g., viewfinder 48 ofFIG. 3 or viewfinder 108 of FIGS. 7-9. An image 136 appears in theviewfinder illustrated in the example of FIG. 10C. A touch sliderdisplay object 120 is shown just above the image 136 in FIG. 10C, and atouch slider display object 130 is shown just below the image 136. Inother embodiments, one touch slider 120 or 130 would appear at a time,respectively, for selecting a parameter to adjust or for adjusting aselected parameter. The touch slider 118 of FIG. 1C, or slider 17 ofFIG. 1B, or slider 117 of FIG. 1C, or combinations thereof, may bedivided functionally into two or more regions, including a regionoperating in accordance with touch slider 120 and a region operating inaccordance with touch slider 130. In another example, one slider 118 mayoperate in accordance with touch slider 120, while another slider 17 mayoperate in accordance with touch slider 130.

FIG. 10D illustrates another view through a viewfinder, e.g., viewfinder48 of FIG. 3 or viewfinder 108 of FIGS. 7-9. An image 136 appears in theviewfinder illustrated in the example of FIG. 10D. A touch sliderdisplay object 120 is shown near the top overlapping the image 136 inFIG. 10D and a touch slider display object 130 is shown near the bottomalso overlapping the image 136. In certain embodiments, there may bethree touch slider display objects, e.g., one for focus, aperture and/ordepth of field, one for brightness or exposure, and one for motion bluror shutter duration control. Various numbers of touch slider displayobjects may be provided each corresponding to a different parameter thatis amenable to manual user pre-capture or post-capture control. Theobjects 120, 130 in the example of FIG. 10D may be translucent so thatthe image can be seen even where the display object 120, 130 alsooccupies a same display screen portion. In other embodiments, one touchslider 120 or 130 would appear at a time, respectively, e.g., for firstselecting a parameter to adjust and for next adjusting the selectedparameter or for first adjusting a first parameter and for nextadjusting a second parameter (then a third parameter, etc.). The touchslider 118 of FIG. 1C, or slider 17 of FIG. 1B, or slider 117 of FIG.1C, or combinations thereof, may be divided functionally into two ormore regions, including a region operating in accordance with touchslider 120 and a region operating in accordance with touch slider 130.In another example, one slider 118 may operate in accordance with touchslider 120, while another slider 17 may operate in accordance with touchslider 130.

The touch sliders 120, 130 may be embodied in an array of touchsensitive elements coupled onto a digital camera housing or exposedthrough a cavity or recess in a digital camera housing, or provided asan object on a touch sensitive digital camera display screen, orcombinations thereof. In certain embodiments, a camera processor isprogrammed to interpret a touching, tapping or sensed proximity of afinger, thumb or stylus or other tool of a user, or some combinationthereof, to a specific region of the touch slider as a user command toinitiate a process for adjusting a value of a specific imagingparameter. Alternatively, a length or duration of a sliding movement ordouble tap time, or a tap pressure, or a sliding movement betweenspecific regions, or another sensed movement or characteristic of asensed movement, such as an area of a closed path, may be assigned to aspecific imaging parameter.

Imaging parameters may include precapture settings for the digitalcamera such as an intensity of flash or other light source illumination,a selection of one or more of multiple available flash choices such as axenon or krypton flash and one or more LEDs, and/or a duration orsequence or direction or spectral range or divergence or whether to usea Fresnel lens, or a length of exposure, or aperture size, or selectionof a single or multiple still image capture, or one of multiple videocapture modes, or a specific audio capture mode such as selecting frommultiple available microphones, wavelength ranges to include or exclude,microphone direction, stereo balance or other available audio options,or a parameter that may be adjusted by altering a configuration of theoptics of the camera, e.g., a focus or zoom setting may be adjusted bymoving a lens relative to the image sensor, or magnification of aviewfinder may be adjusted by moving a magnifying lens within theviewfinder, or a parameter of a captured image such as exposure,contrast, brightness, focus distance, depth of field, white balance,digital fill flash or focal point.

In the example of FIG. 10A, which is simplified for illustrativepurposes, an elongated slider 120 has been separated into four regionsalong its length. The four regions of the slider 120 in FIG. 10A arelabeled flash, exposure, focus and smart/auto mode. The user may tap theexposure region, e.g., and a touch slider object 130 would show exposurevalues ordered from low to high values within some reasonable number ofregions of the touch slider 120. A region may be then tapped which wouldadjust the exposure to the value provided in that region, or a slidingmovement may be used to raise or lower the exposure value by aproportional amount to the distance, speed, pressure, duration or otherdeterminable characteristic of the relative movement sensed by the touchslider 130.

A touch slider may be deemed or referred to as a linear slider incertain embodiments wherein a camera user may adjust a value of aselected imaging parameter in an amount that is proportional to arelative movement along a directional axis defined within the plane ofthe slider surface such as a sliding distance of a user's finger alongan axis defined in the plane of the linear slider. The slider 17 of FIG.1B and/or the slider 118 and/or the slider 117 of FIG. 1C may have awidth as small as a single pixel such that relative movements can onlybe detected in one direction along a single axis of the slider. Two ormore touch sensitive pixels may be provided in certain embodiments alonga second directional axis of the slider 117 and/or slider 118 and/orslider 17 such that relative finger or thumb motion may be detectedalong two axes that define a plane or other contour of the camerahousing surface where the slider is located. A slider 117, 118 and/or 17or a touch screen object slider may have an elongated shape in certainembodiments or a circular, elliptical, square or other polygon or closedshape having some combination of curved and straight segments.

Quantities associated with a third dimension normal to the plane of theslider 117, 118, and/or 17 which is coplanar with the camera housingsurface in the examples of FIG. 1B-1C, such as downward force orpressure or proximity, may be utilized by assigning certain commands tothem in certain embodiments. A touch slider in accordance with certainembodiments may have the functionality of a mouse, joystick, or gamecontroller or may be limited to a short list of imaging parameters as inthe illustrative example of FIG. 10A or something in between. Forexample, the digital camera may be programmed to process a tap in a sameor similar manner as a mouse click and to process a relative movement ofa finger or thumb of a user or a stylus or other tool held by a useralong the length or within the area of the slider in a same or similarmanner as a movement of a mouse.

A touch slider may be located at the top of the camera (see FIG. 1C,slider 118 and slider 117) or the front of the camera, or the rear ofthe camera (see FIG. 1B, slider 17 and touch screen display 16), and maybe located on either side of the camera. The touch slider can beactivated using a haptic mechanism such as a touch screen or a touchslider haptic mechanism. The camera may be configured for finger orthumb actuated haptic activation of the touch slider.

An imaging parameter may be adjusted using the touch slider as a singleparameter adjustment axis, or correction may be performed using thetouch slider as a complex combination of some of the parameters above.The touch slider may be used in conjunction with a duplicate visualdisplay and/or may be functionally divided into two regions: one objecton the display and/or one region of the touch slider being configuredfor selecting a mode of correction and the other object on the displayand/or other region of the touch slider being configured for selecting aquantity of correction. In one example, both of the objects illustratedin FIGS. 10A and 10B may be provided together at the same time and/orside by side on the camera display and/or the touch sliders 17, 117and/or 118 illustrated schematically in the examples of FIGS. 1B and 1Cmay be functionally separated into a mode selection region and aquantity of correction region (e.g., upper half and lower half or leftside and right side). Alternatively, a digital camera in accordance withcertain embodiments may include a pair of touch sliders that arefunctionally distinguished as a mode selection slider and a quantity ofcorrection slider.

LED Lighting

A digital camera is provided that includes an image sensor within acamera housing, an optical assembly including one or more lenses forforming images on the image sensor, a display screen for viewing theimages, a processor and multiple LEDs coupled to the housing forproviding illumination during image capture.

The multiple LEDs may be spaced apart across the camera length or aroundthe optical assembly of the camera. The multiple LEDs may clustered ingroups of two or more LEDs that have different wavelength spectra ordifferent color temperatures.

The camera may be programmed to activate the multiple LEDs at differenttimes. The camera may be programmed to combine image data from imagescaptured at different light angles. The camera may be programmed tocombine images to generate a panoramic image or a 3D image.

The camera may be programmed to activate the multiple LEDs for differentdurations. The camera may be programmed to utilize image data capturedusing illumination by the multiple LEDs activated at different durationsto generate images with one or both of back or front flash effects.

The digital camera may also include one or more non-LED light sources.The camera may be programmed to activate different light sources togenerate images with different fill light. The camera may be programmedto automatically determine a desired fill light by capturing andanalyzing an image. The desired fill light may be determined based onlocation of a main light, direction of a shadow, overall color balance,or combinations thereof. The camera may be programmed to determine depthbased on a disparity of light sources to generate a 3D image.

The camera may be programmed to create a movement effect by activatingthe multiple LEDs in sequence while capturing multiple images each withactivation of a different LED.

The multiple LEDs may have different divergence characteristics. Themultiple LEDs may include a spot light and at least one wider divergenceLED.

The camera may have a xenon flash, which may be a pop-up flash thatrecesses into camera housing when not in use. The camera may beprogrammed to capture images with short or long lighting or both. Thecamera may be programmed to provide a level guide that automaticallynotifies the user that the camera is not level and disappears whencamera level is restored.

FIGS. 11A-11C schematically illustrate front views of example digitalcameras that each include multiple LEDs 141A for illuminating objects tobe imaged in accordance with certain embodiments. The exampleillustration of FIG. 11A shows four LEDs 141A disposed across the frontof the camera. In some embodiments, multiple LEDs 141A are disposedacross the front of the camera and behind an elongated Fresnel lens asillustrated schematically in the example of FIG. 2E. A camera inaccordance with a multiple LED embodiment may include as few as two LEDs141A that may be built-in to the camera or attachable at a hot shoebracket or detachable for adjusting a position or angle of illuminationduring image capture, or remotely controlled by the camera as aperipheral accessory. The LEDs 141A may be relatively disposed invarious ways and embodiments of digital cameras herein generally mayinclude no flash LEDs or any number of LEDs as flash illuminationcomponents.

A microphone 141B is also shown in the example of FIG. 11A to the rightof the lens 114. In certain embodiments, three microphones 141B aredisposed in the plane of the front surface of the camera that form atriangle such as a right triangle or otherwise to permit, e.g., stereoaudio sound recording when the camera is in different orientations suchas landscape and portrait orientations.

The LEDs 141A may be clustered in groups as illustrated schematically inFIG. 11B. In the example of FIG. 11B, two groups 143 of two LEDs 141Aare disposed to the left and right of a third group 145 of three LEDs141A. The LEDs 141A of any of the groups 143, 145 may be selected tocomplement other LEDs 141A in the group. For example, a group 143, 145may include LEDs that offer different wavelength spectra, differentcolor temperature, different intensity, different divergence (spot,wide), different duration, or may be positioned at a slightly differentangle.

The LEDs 141A of a group 143, 145 may have different delays so that theLEDs 141A flash at slightly offset times. The LEDs 141A of a group 143,145 may be activated at different times to allow the capture of multipleimages each illuminated by one LED flash 141A or a subset of LEDs 141A.In one embodiment, these multiple images may be captured and/orilluminated using various light angles.

The groups 143, 145 may be activated at a same time or at differenttimes or for different durations, e.g., to provide a “back to frontflash” effect. A specific selection of LEDs 141A and/or groups 143, 145of LEDs 141A to use in capturing a specific image may provide specificfill light characteristics for the image.

The camera may be configured to determine depth by using the disparityof the lights, e.g., to generate a 3D image or to adjust focus. Amovement effect may be created by activating multiple LEDs 141A in aparticular order or sequence while capturing multiple images each with adifferent LED 141A lighting the scene. The camera may be programmed toautomatically determine a desired fill light based on an analysis ofpreview images. This determination may depend on a location of a mainlight source such as the sun, an external light or a main camera flash,a direction of shadows, overall color balance, and/or other parameters

One or more LEDs 141A may be used in combination with a xenon flash toprovide short/long lighting. A xenon flash may be attachable at a hotshoe bracket or built-in such as in the example of the pop-up flash 129illustrated schematically in FIGS. 7-9.

FIG. 11C schematically illustrates a digital camera with multiple LEDs141A disposed on the camera lens holder around the optical path of thecamera at the periphery of a light collecting area of the lens at theobject end of the lens holder. Six LEDs 141A are shown in FIG. 11Cdisposed on the lens holder 124, although any number of LEDs 141A may bedisposed on the lens holder 124 in various embodiments. One or more LEDs141A may be disposed on the lens holder as in FIG. 11C, while one ormore LEDs 141A may be disposed on the camera housing such as in FIG. 11Aor FIG. 11B.

LEDs 141A may be disposed within recesses defined in the housing whennot in use. When a LED 141A is to be used to provide illumination duringimage capture, the LED 141A may protrude out of the recess to provideillumination during an image capture and then recede back into therecess. An optional pop-up flash 129 may also be configured to recedeinto the housing when not in use.

Another digital camera is provided that includes an image sensor withina camera housing, an optical assembly including one or more lenses forforming images on the image sensor, a display screen for viewing theimages, a processor and a lens mounted flash coupled to the lens housingfor providing illumination during image capture.

The lens mounted flash may be rotatable relative to the lens housing foradjusting a position of the lens mounted flash around the optical pathof the digital camera.

The lens mounted flash may include multiple LEDs spaced apart around theoptical assembly.

The lens mounted flash and/or the lens housing may be detachable fromthe digital camera housing.

The lens mounted flash may include one or more non-LED light sources. AFresnel lens may be disposed between at least one LED and/or non-LEDlight source and an object end of the optical path of the digitalcamera.

The lens mounted flash may include multiple spaced apart light sourcesthat are clustered in two or more groups around the optical path of thedigital camera.

Multiple LEDs may also be coupled to the digital camera housing forproviding additional or alternative illumination during image capture.The multiple LEDs may have different wavelength spectra or differentcolor temperatures. The camera with lens mounted flash may be programmedto activate the multiple LEDs at different times. The camera with lensmounted flash may be programmed to combine image data from imagescaptured at different light angles. The camera with lens mounted flashmay be programmed to combine images to generate a panoramic image. Thecamera with lens mounted flash may be programmed to activate themultiple LEDs for different durations. The camera with lens mountedflash may be programmed to utilize image data captured usingillumination by multiple LEDs activated at different durations togenerate images with one or both of back or front flash effects.

The camera with lens mounted flash may be programmed to activatedifferent light sources or combinations thereof, to generate images withdifferent fill light. The camera with lens mounted flash may beprogrammed to automatically determine a desired fill light by capturingand analyzing an image. The desired fill light may be determined basedon location of a main light, direction of a shadow, overall colorbalance, or combinations thereof. The camera with lens mounted flash maybe programmed to determine depth based on a disparity of light sourcesto generate a 3D image.

The camera with lens mounted flash may be programmed to create amovement effect by activating the multiple LEDs in sequence whilecapturing multiple images each with activation of a different LED.

The multiple LEDs may have different divergence characteristics. Themultiple LEDs may include a spot light and at least one wider divergenceLED. The camera with lens mounted flash may also include a xenon flash.The camera with lens mounted flash may be programmed to capture imageswith short or long lighting or both.

FIG. 12A schematically illustrate front and top views of a digitalcamera with a rotatable lens mounted flash 148 in accordance withcertain embodiments. In the example of FIG. 12A, a pair of LEDs 150 orgroups or clusters of LEDs 150 or xenon or other flash sources 150 aredisposed on opposite sides of the camera lens. The lens mounted flashmay include a different number of flash sources 150 and the flashsources may be differently configured around the lens mounted flash 148.The lens mounted flash may couple to the lens holder like a lens cap.The lens mounted flash 148 is ring shaped such that a circular hole atthe center allows light to reach the lens. FIG. 12B schematicallyillustrates a camera with a lens mounted flash 148 rotated 90° comparedwith FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12C schematically illustrates another front view of the digitalcamera of FIGS. 15A-15B with the rotatable lens mounted flash rotated90° in either direction compared with the orientation of the rotatablelens mounted flash shown in FIG. 12A.

A microphone 141B is also shown in the example of FIGS. 12A-12C to theright of the lens 114. In certain embodiments, two stereo microphonesare disposed on either side of the lens assembly 114. Three microphones141B may be disposed in the plane of the front surface of the camerathat form a triangle such as a right triangle or otherwise to permit,e.g., stereo audio sound recording when the camera is in differentorientations such as landscape and portrait orientations.

Secondary Image Capture Device (“SICD”)

A digital camera is provided that includes an image sensor within acamera housing, an optical assembly including one or more lenses forforming images on the image sensor, a display screen for viewing theimages, an processor and a bracket coupled to the housing that isconfigured for coupling a second image capture device to the digitalcamera.

The bracket may be configured for transmitting image data from thesecond image capture device to the image processor for processing imagescaptured at the second image capture device or for processing imagesbased on image data captured at both the first image sensor and thesecond image capture device. The processor may be programmed to generate3D images based on image data received at both the first image sensorand the second image capture device. The processor may be programmed tocombine image data from the first image sensor and the second imagecapture device into an alpha layer.

The processor may be programmed to combine image data from the firstimage sensor and the second image capture device which may be disposedat different angles of view. The processor may also be programmed tocombine image data from the first image sensor and the second imagecapture device when the second image capture device comprises atelephoto lens to provide better resolution at a center of an imagecaptured at the first image sensor. The processor may also be programmedto combine image data from the first image sensor and the second imagecapture device when the second image capture device comprises a wideangle lens to provide a surround image.

The bracket may be configured for mechanical, electrical, and signalcoupling the second image capture device (SICD) to the digital camera.For example, the SICD may be powered by the main camera battery or asame external power source being utilized by the main camera. The SICDmay be responsive to commands received from the main camera processor ortouch slider or touch screen user inputs. The SICD may provide imagedata and other information that the main camera processor may use toprocess images captured by the main camera at the first image sensor.

The bracket may be configured for coupling with an infrared light sourceand/or a LED light source. The bracket may be configured as a modifiedhot shoe interface of the digital camera. For example, in certainembodiments a conventional mechano-electrical hot shoe interface may bemodified for uni-directional or bi-directional data communicationbetween the SICD and main camera components such as the main processor,first image sensor and user interface.

A bi-directional communications interface may be configured in certainembodiments for sending information and/or commands to the second imagecapture device. A bi-directional communications interface may beconfigured in certain embodiments for remotely controlling the secondimage capture device or another accessory or external device, orcombinations thereof. A bi-directional communications interface may beconfigured in certain embodiments for receiving information and/orsecondary image data from the SICD at the main camera processor.

The bracket may be configured for coupling with an RGB camera or aninfrared camera as a SICD. The bracket may be configured for couplingwith an infrared camera that is configured for measuring temperaturewhile the processor may be configured to apply heat based ontemperatures measured by the infrared camera as an alpha layer to imagescaptured at the first image sensor.

The bracket may be configured for coupling with a second image capturedevice that is configured to capture a specific wavelength spectrum toaccommodate a specific medical imaging application.

The bracket may be configured for coupling with a second image capturedevice that comprises a light source.

The bracket may be positioned off center to provide image data capturedat the second image capture device at different angles of view in twodimensions from the images captured at the first image sensor.Alternatively, a second bracket may be provided.

The bracket may be configured for coupling with a second image capturedevice comprising one or more directional microphones.

The SICD can in certain embodiments generate a disparity image and usethe bi-directional communications interface to send to the mainprocessor enough information for generating a 3D image

The bracket may couple with a SICD that is configured to detect farinfrared light (FIR) for measuring temperature and applying the heat asan “alpha layer” to the image, e.g., in a medical or manufacturingapplication. The SICD can be used to capture a variety of specificwavelengths to accommodate specific medical imaging applications.

An SCID may have its own light source or may utilize one or more lightsources available on the main camera.

The main camera can either save two images or combine them into an Alphalayer.

The SCID may have a different angle of view than the main camera and mayinclude a telephoto to provide better resolution at the center or a wideangle to provide a surround image.

The SCID may be positioned off center to provide a different angle ofview from the main lens.

The SCID may also include a directional microphone.

The interface between the SCID and the main camera may include abi-directional data interface, which could be used as a communicationport for sending information to the accessory from the camera. Incertain embodiments, the main processor is programmed for remotecontrolling other external devices.

FIGS. 13 and 14 schematically illustrate front and back views of adigital camera that includes a secondary image capture device 152coupled at a hot shoe location 116 for thermal (IR), 3D or otheralternative or secondary illumination and/or imaging. The camera mayalso include any other component described with reference to FIGS.1A-27B. For example, the camera illustrated schematically in the exampleof FIGS. 13-14 includes an ergonomic grip 2 having linear sliders 117and 118 disposed at a top surface and a linear slider disposed at a backsurface, a rotatable viewfinder 108 with a blinder 109, multiple LEDs141A, one or more microphones 141B and a display screen 126.

Audio

FIG. 15A schematically illustrates a top view of a digital camera thatincludes multiple microphones 160 for audio recording in accordance withcertain embodiments. Eight microphones are shown in the example of FIG.15A, including four microphones 160 spread across the front of thecamera and four microphones 160 spread across the back surface of thecamera. In certain embodiments, one or more additional front facingmicrophones are disposed near the bottom of the front face of thecamera, along with the multiple microphones 160 that are shown in FIG.15A spaced apart near the top of the front face of the camera, so thatthe audio system is capable of providing right-left stereo soundrecording notwithstanding the orientation of the camera at the time ofthe recording nor whether the orientation changes during the recording.

FIG. 15B schematically illustrates a cross sectional top view of acorner of a digital camera that includes a pair of microphones inaccordance with certain embodiments. The two microphones 160 are coupledon opposite sides of a pc board 162 that is disposed within the camerahousing 164. Each microphone 160 is protected by foam 166 and goretex168 disposed between the microphone 160 and a grill 168.

FIG. 15C schematically illustrates a front view of a digital camera thatincludes multiple microphones 160 in accordance with certainembodiments. Four microphones 160 are disposed in a line across a frontof the camera above the lens near the top in the example of FIG. 15C,while a fifth microphone 160 is spaced from the line of four microphonesin the vertical direction. The fifth microphone 160 is disposed at fourdifferent angles to the four microphones 160 that form the line, suchthat stereo audio may be provided at four different orientations of thecamera. The camera may be dynamically programmed to sense theorientation, e.g., using an accelerometer and/or display analysis, andto select a pair of microphones 160 that may be used to provide the beststereo recording depending on the camera orientation. The fourmicrophones 160 disposed in line are at a same location as the Fresnellens 40 in the example of FIG. 15C. The Fresnel lens 40 may includecutout areas for permitting the microphones 160 to receive soundswithout being directly overlapped by the Fresnel lens 40. A grill 168such as in the example illustrated in FIG. 15B that is configured foruse with a microphone 160 may be disposed at the location of the cutoutarea of the Fresnel lens 40, or the Fresnel lens 40 may be replaced bygrill 168 entirely. One or more LEDs 141A or LED clusters 143, 145 mayhowever be disposed behind the Fresnel lens 40 at one or more locationsnot occupied by microphones 160.

FIG. 15D schematically illustrates a perspective view of a digitalcamera that includes multiple microphones 160 in accordance certainembodiments. The example of FIG. 15D includes three microphones 160 thatare directed for receiving sounds from the front of the camera and onemicrophone that is directed for receiving sounds from the rear of thecamera. One of the front-facing microphones 160 is located near the grip2 and near the top of the camera, and may be otherwise disposed withinthe grip and/or nearer the bottom of the camera.

Another front-facing microphone 160 is disposed at the top-right of thefront surface of the camera in the example of FIG. 15D. This microphone160 may be disposed within a viewfinder 108 such as in the example ofFIG. 3 or 7-9, such that the microphone would face front when theviewfinder 108 is stowed and would face to the side when the viewfinder108 is in use. Alternatively, the microphone 160 may be disposed belowand/or to the left of the viewfinder 108 such as to face frontnotwithstanding the configuration of the viewfinder 108.

A third front-facing microphone 160 is disposed at the bottom-right ofthe front surface of the camera. The rear-facing microphone 160 isdisposed between two front facing microphones 160 near the top of thecamera in the example of FIG. 15D. This rear-facing microphone 160 maybe located below and/or to the side of a hot shoe bracket 116 as in theexample of FIGS. 13-14.

Various embodiments of digital cameras are provided that includemultiple microphones aligned with the optical assembly to record soundduring image capture. In certain embodiments, the camera includes atleast three positioned microphones to generate the horizontal disparityin both portrait and landscape mode. Each pair of spaced microphones isdisposed to capture stereo sound and signal processing may be used tofurther separate the right and left channels by subtracting leftinformation from the right channel and vice versa. Referring to FIG.15D, for landscape mode, microphones A and B can be used. For portraitmode, microphones B and C may be used. In the event that sound is beingrecorded with the camera rotated 45° then microphones A and C may beused. Rotating the camera from landscape to portrait may be monitored byan accelerometer. In certain embodiments, the microphone pair being usedduring a sound recording may be changed one or more times as changes incamera orientation are determined by the accelerometer.

In certain embodiments, the camera may include three front-facingunidirectional microphones, or the A, B and C mics in FIG. 15D, in orderto provide a stereo image with low background noise. Unlikeomnidirectional microphones, unidirectional microphones do not pick upsound well in their rear direction.

A rear facing directional microphone is also included in certainembodiments, e.g., as illustrated schematically at FIG. 15D. The rearfacing mic, or the “Z” mic, may be used to pick up the voice of thecamera user or other sound coming from the rear of the camera. The Zmicrophone can be omnidirectional, or unidirectional or bidirectional.The level of user pickup can be altered in certain embodiments bychanging the sensitivity of this rear facing microphone. In certainembodiments, the polarity of microphone Z may be selectively alteredfrom positive to negative to further cancel the sound from the camerauser during those times when the camera user does not want their voicerecorded. Alternately the sound from the user's voice may simply besubtracted from the other microphones using an algorithm.

A camera in accordance with certain embodiments may include a lens motorand a noise reduction algorithm to reduce the lens motor noise picked upby the microphones. The noise reduction algorithm may be based both onnoise cancellation and application of a lens profile as a base filterfor a noise removal pattern. The noise removal pattern may beprerecorded for each lens or alternatively loaded form a given database.The profile may be recorded multiple times based on the different lenspositioning (focal and focus). The noise reduction algorithm and/ormicrophone configuration may be configured to reduce or cancel lensmotor noise or camera shutter noise or camera handling noise orbackground voices, wind, street or other environmental noise notintended to be included in captured video, or combinations thereof.

A camera in accordance with certain embodiments may include a lens thatcan be adjusted from wide angle to narrow angle. In these embodiments,an audio pickup angle may be adjusted in accordance with the imagecapture angle. As the lens angle changes, the camera is programmed incertain embodiments to adjust a stereo microphone processing applicationin accordance with the tracked changes in lens viewing angle.Information from the lens may be used to drive beam forming parametersfor the microphones in these embodiments.

There are two different basic microphone technologies that areapplicable for camera usage. Electrets microphones utilize an oldertechnology developed nearly fifty years ago. MEMS microphones utilizemore recent IC technology, becoming popular around 10-years ago. Adigital camera in accordance with certain embodiments may include one ormore microphones that are configured in accordance with each of thesetwo technologies.

Electret Condenser Microphone (ECM)

Electret microphones differ in many respects from MEMS microphones. Anelectret microphone may include an insulator that carries a permanentcharge. The insulator in electret microphones may be a fluoropolymer orTeflon. Electret microphones may include capacitance or condensermicrophones, such that a conductive diaphragm moves with respect to afixed conductive plate, one of which is the electret. The electretcarries an equivalent voltage that biases the diaphragm towards thefixed plate, called a backplate. Sound impinging upon the diaphragmcauses the diaphragm to move which in turn causes a change incapacitance, which produces a voltage swing. The impedance of theelectret microphone may be high, on the order of a few pf, so a FET maybe generally used to convert the high impedance electrical output to amore manageable impedance of around 3-5 kohms. A built-in preamplifierwith high voltage output and low output impedance may be included. Anoutput for the electret microphone may be 5-10 mV for 94 dBSPL input,and the built in preamp may raise the output to around 50 mV.

Charging or Poling an Electret

The electret may be charged or polarized. Starting with a clean Teflonfilm, a net negative charge may be injected into the film using one ofseveral methods. One method may include placing the film in a vacuumchamber and using an electron gun, such as those found in TV picturetube, to shoot electrons into the film in a manner that causes theelectrons to evenly penetrate the film, but not so much as to destroythe film. Another method is to place the film between two metal platesand place the assembly into an oven at a temperature enough to softenthe film, but not enough to melt it. A voltage potential may be placedacross the metal plates, and the assembly may be removed from the ovenand allowed to cool, trapping charged particles inside the film. A thirdmethod is to use corona charging by placing the film on a ground planeunder a high voltage discharge point. The film may then be moved withrespect to the discharge point, resulting in an even charge density.

The electret microphone capsules may have a diameter of 3 mm, 4 mm, 6 mmor 10 mm or another selected diameter. The microphone capsule depth canbe selected depending upon construction and polar pattern. The 10 mmmicrophones have lower self-noise than the 4 mm models, while the 3, 4and 6 mm models conserve space and weight and are used in embodiments ofsmaller overall camera size than embodiments that utilize the 10 mmmicrophones.

Electret microphone elements can be directional, e.g., unidirectionaland bi-directional. Electret microphones may be 3 mm diameter.

Silicon (MEMS) Microphones

Silicon microphones are a condenser microphones that use a bias voltage,unlike electret microphones. Silicon mic elements may be etched from asingle silicon wafer, then assembled with a preamp and power supply,usually into a metal case. As the diaphragm of a silicon mic is verylight, there is very low sensitivity to vibration. Because of thisconstruction, silicon mics are omnidirectional and tend to have slightlyhigher self-noise than the electret mics.

Solder reflow allows for direct PCB mounting of MEMS mics as in theexample of FIG. 15B. The MEMS mics are consistent with variations of+/−1 dB. Electrets are consistent with variations of +/−3 dB. MEMS micsmay be combined into multiple mic beam forming applications.

Polar Responses of Microphones (Directional Characteristics)

Three polar patterns for electret microphone capsules includeomni-directional, uni-directional and bi-directional. MEMS mics areomni-directional. The uni and bi electret mics are sometimes referred toas “noise canceling” as they do reduce the pickup of background noise.An omnidirectional mic picks up sound globally, equally. Aunidirectional mic picks up sound mainly from the front hemisphere and abidirectional picks up sound from the front and rear but rejects soundpickup from the side. An omni mic is not position critical. A uni micshould be aimed at the talker's mouth such that there should be someroom or “air” around a uni. The bi-directional, sometimes referred to asa close talking microphone, does a better job than the uni when it comesto reducing the effect of intense background noise, but it is veryposition sensitive. The frequency response and output of the uni and bimicrophone types is dependent upon the distance from the microphone tothe user; there is a reduction in low frequency output when comparedwith the high frequencies as the microphone distance from the soundsource increases. The omni frequency response is not dependent upon thedistance from the user, only the output is. The cost of an omni is thelowest and the susceptibility to mechanical vibration and wind noise isthe least. All microphones can have their sensitivity to wind noisereduced by enclosing them in a ball of foam or fake fur.

Uni and bi microphone capsules usually require a more sophisticatedmounting than an omni, and the uni and bi mounting can take up morespace or volume than the mounting of an omni capsule. Mobile phones,headsets and better quality speakerphones usually have the microphonemounted in a rubber boot in order to reduce the coupling, sometimescalled “terminal coupling loss” between the receiver and the microphone.A boot for a uni or bi capsule includes openings for the front and rearof the microphone capsule, and as a consequence the boot is larger thanthe boot for an omni capsule.

Wind Noise

Uni-directional and bi-directional electret microphones are moresensitive to wind noise, street noise, crowd noise or otherenvironmental noise than omni microphones, while MEMS microphones areless sensitive to wind, etc. A multiple microphone plus DSP may be usedfor reduced wind noise. In order to reduce wind noise, acousticaldamping material may be placed in the front of the microphone. Suchdamping materials may be woven or felted materials such as silk, feltedwool, foam, woven metallic materials such as those used for hearing aidapplications, and sintered materials. A high pass filter will helpreduce wind and other noise, such as 6 dB/octave at 300 Hz or 24dB/Octave at 100 Hz. The filter may be disposed immediately after themicrophone output, before any amplification stages.

Stereo Microphones and Stereo Recording

Recording in stereo may involve two or more microphones spaced apart,and mixed down to two channels. The microphone spacing may create a timedelay between the microphones, resulting in a “comb filter” effectcausing peaks and valleys in the frequency response. A coincidentmicrophone recording technique may use two bi-directional microphonecapsules placed at 90 degrees to each other, and contained within thesame small case. Two cardioid microphones may be spaced apart. A singlecardioid element may be used that faces the front, and a bi-directionalelement may face the side. This is called M-S, or “mid-side”. Thedirectionality can be controlled electrically, without having to movethe microphone. Two cardioid elements may be disposed at an angle of 110degrees. Ambisonic microphones featuring multiple elements may be usedfor surround sound usage.

Microphone Placement

There are several options for microphone placement:

-   -   M-S (mid-side) is an effective stereo mic placement that adds        depth to a recording and can be done using coincident mic. The        combinations can be omni/bi with the bi at 90-270-degrees,        uni/bi with the uni facing forward and the bi at 90/270-degrees,        and dual bi with one mic at 0/180-degrees and the other at        90/270 degrees.    -   X-Y also uses dual microphones. The combinations are dual uni        with included angles from 90-degrees to 180 degrees with the        mics very close together such that they are nearly touching, and        dual bi with one mic at 45/225-degrees and the other mic at        135/315-degrees.    -   Spaced Apart (right and left) microphones can be omni, uni or bi        depending upon a number of factors which include distance,        closeness of unwanted sounds, degree of directionality v. depth,        and absorbent panels between the mics. Mics may be spaced about        3-inches apart. Three uni elecrets may be used to capture sound        from the front of the camera as illustrated at FIG. 15D.

Tilt-Out Display

FIG. 16A schematically illustrates a top view of a digital camera with a90° rotatable tilt-out display screen 186 in accordance with certainembodiments. The display screen 186 may be held in a recess 187 as arear display or rotated as shown in FIG. 16A for viewing at an acute orright angle to the back of the camera. A hinge coupling 188 between oneedge of the display screen 186 and the camera housing at one side of therecess 187 permits the rotation, while maintaining signal coupling withthe camera. Signal coupling may be maintained wirelessly between thecamera and the display screen 186, such that the display screen 186 maydetach entirely from the camera while images may continue to be viewedas captured by the camera. The hinge coupling 188 may be mechanical incertain embodiments, while magnetic hinge couplings may be provided forrotation of the display screen 186 about a selected edge and/ordetachment from the camera along any or all edges of the display screen186.

FIG. 16B schematically illustrates a top view of a digital camera with a180° rotatable tilt-out display screen 196 in accordance with certainembodiments. The camera grip 192 in the example of FIG. 16B may includea recess 193 within which the display screen 196 may be disposed whenrotated out fully 180°. The recess 193 in the grip 192 may be formed byremoving a detachable rear grip portion that may be replaced forergonomic handling of the camera during image capture. The detachablerear grip portion may itself rotate out of the way utilizing a hingecoupling or for a hollow grip 192 or hollow rear grip portion, the gripwall may fold out of the way like an accordion blind or slide into thefront of the grip 192 like a sliding door. The display screen 196 mayinclude front and back displays coupled together for viewing from thefront or back of the camera whether the display screen 196 is rotatedout 180° or is secured within the recess 197.

A second display may be disposed beneath the first display such thatrotation of the first display by 180° doubles the width and area of theusable display screen. More than two display sections may be rotatableand collapsible in this manner, and external display sections may beattachable to the camera display screen to increase the usable displayarea.

FIG. 16C schematically illustrates a top view of another digital camerawith a 180° rotatable tilt-out display screen 206. The screen is coupledto the camera housing at one end of the recess 207 by a biaxial hingecoupling 208 in accordance with certain embodiments. In this embodiment,the rotation by 180° is accompanied by a translation distance sufficientto permit the display screen 206 to rotate out fully 180° even though arear portion of the grip 202 extends behind the plane of the display 206when coupled within the recess 207 defined at the back of the camera.The biaxial hinge coupling 208 includes a first hinge 211 coupled bothto the camera and a spacing extension 212. A second hinge 213 is coupledto the spacing extension 212 and the display screen 206 such that thedisplay screen 206 may be translated outward from the camera housing bya length of the spacing extension 212.

FIG. 16D illustrates a tilt out display 186 that rotates out of recess187 about axis coupling 188 by 90 degrees. The tilt out display of FIG.16D rotates away from the grip side of the camera. The tilt out display186 may rotate out to 180 degrees in embodiments that include a biaxialaxis coupling 188 with a displacement spacer, e.g., such as thatdescribed in the example of FIG. 16C.

FIGS. 16E-16F illustrate a tilt out display that 186 that rotates awayfrom the back surface of the camera about axis coupling 188 that isdisposed to permit 180 degree rotation of the tilt out display screen186 about a uni-axial hinge coupling 188. A semi-cylindrical cavity (notshown) may be defined to permit a short end of the tilt out displayscreen 186 to rotate through the rear surface of the camera.

Transparent Grip

FIGS. 17A-17B schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camerathat has a transparent grip 222 and a wide display screen 226 comparedwith embodiments that include a display screen that has a right edge tothe left of an opaque grip in a back view. The display screen 226 in theembodiment of FIG. 17A extends into the grip 222 or under a rear volumeor rear wall of the grip 222. The transparent grip 222 may include atleast a rear grip portion that is formed from a transparent polymericmaterial or glass.

An advantageous transparency of the grip 222 may be alternativelyprovided with a hollow rear grip portion and an accordion blind-typerear grip wall that can be folded open to view the rightmost portion ofthe display screen 226 or closed to provide an ergonomic grip forcapturing images. The rear grip wall may alternatively slide into thefront of the grip 222 in certain embodiments.

Alternatively, the grip 222 or rear portion of the grip 222 may have ahinge or slide coupling for rotating or sliding a rear volume of thegrip 222 or rear wall of a hollow grip 222 or hollow rear grip portionout of the way for viewing wide screen images or otherwise using therightmost portion of the display screen 226 that would otherwise beblocked by an opaque grip. The grip 222 or rear volume of the grip 222may be otherwise entirely detachable, e.g., when the digital camera isto be used as viewer, phone, computer or other mobile device purposeother than capturing images.

The grip portion may be hollow from the screen to the rear wall todefine a compartment for storing a camera strap. A pop-up flash mayrecess into the hollow volume of the grip when not in use.

The digital camera of FIG. 17A also includes a hot shoe interface 236for coupling a secondary image capture device, flash, a thermalillumination and/or IR imaging camera, a medical imaging camera, anultrasound imaging device, or another medical tool that may providemedical information when the tool is positioned to contact the skin orotherwise to measure a medically significant quantity, or an additionalflash or other digital camera accessory.

An electronic viewfinder 238 is shown in stowed position in FIG. 17A andis configured to be rotatable to an active position overlapping, in thisexample, a top-left corner of the camera display screen 226. Theelectronic viewfinder 238 may include an EVF flash accessory in thefront (not shown in FIG. 17A) that is configured to provide a flashcapability to the camera when the viewfinder 238 is in the stowedposition. A touch slider may be provided on top of the grip 222 or as adisplay object on a touch screen display 226 or on or near theviewfinder 238.

Image Capture and Processing Interface

FIGS. 18-27B schematically illustrate digital cameras that areprogrammed to capture images that have desired quality characteristics.Precapture settings may be adjusted automatically by the camera based oninformation gathered from preview images or user input or programming orcombinations thereof. Captured images may also be edited or combined toform new or processed images, and sequences of images may be captured asvideo or to enhance still image quality. An advantageous user interface,image processor and program code embedded on storage media within thedigital camera housing facilitate the capture and processing of qualityimages and video, as well as the display, storage and transmission ofthose quality images and video. Examples are provided and schematicallyillustrated in FIGS. 18-27B which images of various objects and userinterface tools that may be provided on a rear display screen of adigital camera that is configured in accordance with certain embodimentsto receive user input by manipulation of one or more touch sliders,e.g., as illustrated at FIGS. 1B-1C as elements 17, 117, and/or 118and/or by manipulating a touch screen display.

FIG. 18 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and various buttons for image capture and/orediting control, including buttons for capture type control (e.g.,video, time lapse, slow motion, panorama, 3D, cinemagraph, 3D audio,moment), secondary controls such as timer and flash, adjustmentcontrols, global controls such as gallery, app store and settings, and athumbnail of a previous image capture in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 19 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and various buttons for image capture and/orediting control, including buttons for adjusting a time parameter and/orscrolling through a sequence of images, for selecting and editingvarious parameters using smart menus and a touch slider or linear sliderfor selecting an image parameter for adjustment and then adjusting theimage parameter, and/or for scrolling or showing a current timeparameter disposed between a start time and an end time for the sequenceof images. In certain embodiments the slider object changes betweenparameter selecting and adjusting modes, while in other embodiments, twodifferent slider objects appear on the display in accordance withcertain embodiments.

FIG. 20 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and a smart reset button.

FIG. 21 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen such as a touch screen, a smart button, avalue indicator, smart correction and/or scrolling button, and a linearslider or touch slider for adjusting parameters such as exposure,contrast, fill-flash, face priority, brightness, focus, and variousother image capture and/or editing parameters, in accordance withcertain embodiments. The camera is programmed to provide image qualityalerts as a smart capture feature. In certain embodiments, the camerawill notify a user that a specific parameter is poor, e.g., the capturedimage may be too dark or too blurry. One or more thumbnails of recentimages or shots captured may have frames of different colors based onimage quality, e.g., red for poor, yellow for so-so, and green for good.

FIG. 22 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen showing a live image, a favorite selectbutton, a delete select button, a global control button, and advancededits and share buttons, in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 23 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen showing a feedback bubble that a user canaccept, reject or ignore in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 24 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and buttons for crop control and otheradjustment controls, and a button for confirming a crop or otheradjustment, and cancel and smart buttons, in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 25 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen and a timeline with indicators of original andcurrent time values disposed between start and end times, and buttonsfor canceling to exit adjustment mode without saving and for confirmingto save changes, and a smart button, in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 26 schematically illustrates a back view of a digital camera thatincludes a display screen showing a selected image for sharing, andbuttons for email, text, facebook, and networked second camera or otherdevice, in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 27A-27B schematically illustrate a back view of a digital camerathat includes a display screen that shows a level guide that autoappears when the camera is not leveled and disappears when the level isrestored in accordance with certain embodiments.

While an exemplary drawings and specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understoodthat that the scope of the present invention is not to be limited to theparticular embodiments discussed. Thus, the embodiments shall beregarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and it should beunderstood that variations may be made in those embodiments by workersskilled in the arts without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

In addition, in methods that may be performed according to embodimentsherein and that may have been described above, the operations have beendescribed in selected typographical sequences. However, the sequenceshave been selected and so ordered for typographical convenience and arenot intended to imply any particular order for performing theoperations, except for those where a particular order may be expresslyset forth or where those of ordinary skill in the art may deem aparticular order to be necessary.

A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” in the abovespecification should not be read as requiring that each and every one ofthose items be present in the grouping in accordance with allembodiments of that grouping, as various embodiments will have one ormore of those elements replaced with one or more others. Furthermore,although items, elements or components of the invention may be describedor claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within thescope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated orclearly understood as necessary by those of ordinary skill in the art.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other such as phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterm “assembly” does not imply that the components or functionalitydescribed or claimed as part of the assembly are all configured in acommon package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of anassembly, e.g., an optical assembly or a camera assembly may be combinedin a single package or separately maintained and may further bemanufactured, assembled or distributed at or through multiple locations.

We claim:
 1. A digital camera, comprising: a digital camera housing; animage sensor coupled within the housing; an optical assembly includingone or more lenses for forming images on the image sensor; a displayscreen coupled to the housing; and a touch slider configured for sensinga relative movement of a finger, thumb or stylus or other tool of auser, or combinations thereof, and adjusting a value of an imagingparameter based on said relative movement; an ergonomic camera grip atone end of the camera housing, and wherein said grip includes atransparent rear volume for viewing a portion of the display screen thatthe grip overlaps.
 2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the touchslider is configured to sense proximity for selecting a menu item orotherwise executing an object script appearing on the display screen,and wherein the camera processor is programmed to begin a start-upprocess when the camera user becomes proximate to the camera or acertain portion of the camera.
 3. The digital camera of claim 1, whereinthe touch slider comprises a linear slider.
 4. The digital camera ofclaim 3, wherein the linear slider is configured for adjusting a valueof an image parameter proportional to said relative movement.
 5. Thedigital camera of claim 3, wherein the linear slider is configured foradjusting a value of an image parameter based on said relative movementalong a predetermined directional axis.
 6. The digital camera of claim1, wherein the touch slider is configured for haptic sensing of saidrelative movement by the camera or by the user, or both.
 7. The digitalcamera of claim 1, wherein the touch slider is configured for scrollingand moving a cursor or other object on the display screen.
 8. Thedigital camera of claim 1, wherein said value of said imaging parameteris adjustable based on a length, speed, shape, distance or other amountdiscernible from said relative movement, or combinations thereof.
 9. Thedigital camera of claim 1, wherein said value is adjustable proportionalto said length, speed, shape, distance or other amount.
 10. The digitalcamera of claim 1, wherein said touch slider comprises a capacitivetouch sensor.
 11. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said touchslider is configured for haptic activation.
 12. The digital camera ofclaim 11, wherein said touch slider is configured for touch screenactivation.
 13. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said touch slideris spaced from said display screen.
 14. The digital camera of claim 1,wherein the display screen is disposed at a rear surface of the housingand the touch slider is disposed at a top, bottom, side or front surfaceof the housing.
 15. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said imagingparameter comprises exposure, brightness, contrast, focus distance,depth of field, white balance, digital fill flash or focal point, orcombinations thereof.
 16. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein thecamera is programmed to suggest to a camera user to adjust one or moreof said imaging parameters.
 17. The digital camera of claim 16, whereinsuggestions are determined based on image analysis or user preferences,or both.
 18. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the touch slider isfurther configured for selecting different imaging parameters byrespectively tapping or otherwise touching different regions of thetouch slider.
 19. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the camera isconfigured to provide on the display screen visual information to theuser about the relative movement or adjustment of said value or both.20. The digital camera of claim 19, wherein said information includesidentifying a specific imaging parameter and a value of the identifiedparameter.
 21. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the ergonomiccamera grip is detachably coupled to the camera housing at said one end.22. The digital camera of claim 1, further comprising a chamferedshutter button disposed on the grip.
 23. The digital camera of claim 1,wherein the touch slider is disposed on the grip.
 24. The digital cameraof claim 23, further comprising a second touch slider disposed at therear of the camera housing.
 25. The digital camera of claim 24, whereinthe second touch slider is also disposed on the grip.
 26. The digitalcamera of claim 1, wherein said display screen extends under thetransparent rear volume of the grip.
 27. The digital camera of claim 1,wherein the touch sensor is configured to serve as a shutter trigger orimage capture button when the camera is programmed to interpret aproximity or pressure change at the touch slider as a command to capturean image.
 28. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the touch slider isconfigured to sense proximity for selecting a menu item or otherwiseexecuting an object script appearing on the display screen.
 29. Thedigital camera of claim 1, wherein the camera processor is programmed tointerpret a sensed proximity of a finger, thumb or stylus or other toolof a user, or some combination thereof, to a specific region of thetouch slider as a user command to initiate a process for adjusting avalue of a specific imaging parameter.
 30. The digital camera of claim1, wherein the proximity sensor is disposed near a viewfinder window fortriggering one or more camera functions based on proximity of the camerauser to the viewfinder.
 31. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein thecamera is programmed to display images on a larger portion of thedisplay screen when the camera user is not proximate to the viewfinderin the active position than when the camera user is proximate to theviewfinder in the active position.
 32. A digital camera, comprising: adigital camera housing; an image sensor coupled within the housing; anoptical assembly including one or more lenses for forming images on theimage sensor; a display screen coupled to the housing; and a touchslider configured for sensing a relative movement of a finger, thumb orstylus or other tool of a user, or combinations thereof, and adjusting avalue of an imaging parameter based on said relative movement, whereindifferent parameters are selectable for adjusting based on a directionof said relative movement, wherein multiple parameters are adjustablewith a single relative movement that includes a non-zero projection ontoeach of multiple directional axes, wherein said multiple directionalaxes include two perpendicular axes that define a touch slider plane,wherein said touch slider comprises multiple posts that areindependently movable in one or more directions out of the touch sliderplane.
 33. The digital camera of claim 32, wherein the touch sliderplane is disposed parallel to a portion of the housing.
 34. The digitalcamera of claim 32, wherein said multiple directional axes include athird axis normal to the touch slider plane.
 35. The digital camera ofclaim 32, wherein said multiple posts are movable relative to thedigital camera housing from recessed or otherwise stowed positions toone or more protruded positions when in use.
 36. The digital camera ofclaim 32, wherein the digital camera is programmed to track movements ofsaid multiple posts in said one or more directions to determine saidrelative movement of said finger, thumb or stylus or other tool of saiduser, or combinations thereof.